Golf training aid apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus having an elongate body made of a piece of webbing having a plurality of different colored segments. The device provides a golf training aid that assists users in developing distance control and strengthening their chipping and putting game. The apparatus for use as a golf training aid includes a piece of webbing; the piece of webbing may have an elongate body with a first end and a second end. A plurality of grommets may be included.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/800,038, filed Oct. 31, 2017, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/415,782 filed Nov.1, 2016, both of these applications are incorporated by reference hereinin their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Field of The Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of golf accessoriesand more specifically relates to a golf training aid.

Description of Related Art

Many people enjoy playing golf. Golf is a club and ball sport in whichplayers use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on acourse in as few strokes as possible. A golf club is used to hit a golfball. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. Manygolfers desire a way to improve their chip shot, as well as theirputting game. With improved rhythm and tempo, players can achieveconsistency. This will ultimately reduce their strokes on the green andstrengthen their game overall. A training aid that affords players theability to improve their shots is needed. Therefore, a suitable solutionis desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,968,113 to John R. Spelman, et al. relates to a golfputting trainer device. The described golf putting trainer deviceincludes a device for assisting and training golfers with their putts.The device includes an elongated section configured to be placed on theground where the golfer intends to make his back-swing for a selectedput. A vertical section or “backstop” is configured to be placed atselected locations along the elongated section to corresponding todifferent putt lengths, and therefore different back-swing lengths. Adistance scale may be printed on the elongated section. Light projectiondevices may be included to project a predicted ball path. A back-swingspeed indicator system may also be included.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known golf art,the present disclosure provides a novel golf training aid apparatus. Thegeneral purpose of the present disclosure, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a golf training aid thatassists users in developing distance control and strengthening in theirchipping and putting game.

An apparatus for use as a golf training aid is disclosed: AChipping-and-Putting Line. The chipping-and-putting line for use as agolf training aid includes a piece of fabric or webbing; the piece ofwebbing may have an elongate body with a first end and a second end. Aplurality of grommets may be included. A first of the plurality ofgrommets may be located on the first end of the elongate body and aseventh of the plurality of grommets may be located on the second end ofthe elongate body. The elongate body may define a predetermined length.Furthermore, the elongate body may include a plurality of differentcolored segments which may be configured to represent a differentdistance interval. Each of the plurality of different colored segmentsmay be separated by a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth ofsaid plurality of grommets. In a preferred embodiment, the elongate bodyis 30 feet in length and has each of the plurality of different coloredsegments measuring 5 feet long. In an alternative embodiment, theelongate body is 90 feet in length and has each of the plurality ofdifferent colored segments measuring 15 feet in length. The presentdisclosure may be advantageous in providing the apparatus that may beconfigured to be used as a golf training aid and improve golfing skillsby utilizing the above stated features, such as the plurality ofdifferent colored segments, during golf play.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, agolf training aid apparatus, constructed and operative according to theteachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golf trainingaid during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golf trainingaid of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golftraining aid of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable carrier of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a device of FIG. 1, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to golfand more particularly to a golf training aid apparatus as used toimprove golf playing skills.

Generally, the present disclosure provides a golf training aid thatassists users in developing distance control and strengthening theirchipping and putting game. It improves a user's rhythm, tempo, andconsistency to help save strokes on the green. This allows users topractice a variety of chip shots and may also be used for puttingdistance control. It affords users a way to improve their game in theirbackyard, at a driving range, on the putting green, at the park, andanywhere else desired. The present disclosure offers virtually endlessgames and drills for users of all golfing abilities.

In distant practice, a golfer repetitively practices chipping or puttingfrom a set distance to the pin or green. The combination of repeatingthe shot and repeating it from a set distance helps the golfer develop afeel or muscle memory for how to move the club to execute a chip or aputt at a certain distance. While the golfer may know the numericaldistance to the target, the golfer doesn't execute the shot based onthat number as much as the golfer visualizes the distance in his or hermind. That is, the golfer's estimation of distance is woven into thegolfer's “memory” with the practice distances and other shot parameters.The golfer, perhaps subconsciously, tries to repeat all of theremembered motion combined with the remembered distance to achieveconsistent stroke execution for a specific distance or to estimatestroke parameters for intermediate distances.

The current invention aids the memory of the repetitive practice shotdistance by placing a visual measurement along the shot's path. Thedevice that supplies the visual measurement is a chipping-and-puttingline. The chipping-and-putting line allows a golfer to see a pictorialrepresentation of the distance during each practice shot. With theenough repetition, as the golfer prepares for and makes the shot, thegolfer's mind's eye projects the remembered picture of thechipping-and-putting line onto the distance between the ball and thetarget, improving the distant estimate subconsciously made by thegolfer's brain. The use of the chipping-and-putting line improves theaccuracy of the golfer's subconscious distance estimation, which allowsthe golfer's practice to mix more accurate visual distancedeterminations into the muscle memory developed during practice. Thegolfer's mental projection of an imaginary scale onto the shot beingattempted helps the golfer's mind call up an improved shot sequence orset of shot parameters. Because the golfer's mind subconsciouslyremembers a set of shot parameters based on a remembered distance thatbetter matches the real distance, performance increases faster.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5, various views of an apparatusfor use as a golf training aid 100. FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for use asa golf training aid 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated, the apparatus for use as a golf training aid100 may include a piece of webbing 110. The piece of webbing 110 mayhave an elongate body 120 with a first end 130 and a second end 140. Theelongate body 120 may define a predetermined length. The predeterminedlength may be between about 30 feet and 90 feet. Further, the elongatebody 120 may include a plurality of different colored segments 160. Eachof the plurality of different colored segments 160 may be configured torepresent a different distance interval. Each of said plurality ofdifferent colored segments may be separated by a second 151, a third152, a fourth 153, a fifth 154, and a sixth 155 of a plurality ofgrommets. Such a feature may be advantageous in improving golfing skillsand providing a golf training aid.

The piece of webbing 110 may comprise of a polyester webbing,polypropylene, and/or nylon. The apparatus 100 may primarily be utilizedoutdoors. In order to protect the piece of webbing 110 from weather, thepiece of webbing 110 may be UV-resistant, mold-resistant, andweatherproof.

The apparatus 100 may further include the plurality of grommets. A first150 of the plurality of grommets may be located on the first end 130 ofthe elongate body 120, and a seventh 156 of the plurality of grommetsmay be located on the second end 140 of the elongate body 120. Theapparatus 100 may further comprise a plurality of stakes 170. Theplurality of stakes 170 may be removably coupled to the plurality ofgrommets and configured to secure the piece of webbing 110 to a portionof ground during use.

According to one embodiment, the apparatus for use as a golf trainingaid 100 may be arranged as a kit. The kit may include the apparatus foruse as a golf training aid 100. The instructions may detail functionalrelationships in relation to the structure of the apparatus for use as agolf training aid 100 (such that the apparatus for use as a golftraining aid 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferredmanner).

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golftraining aid 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As above, the apparatus for use as a golf training aid 100may include and the piece of webbing 110. The piece of webbing 110 mayhave the elongate body 120 with the first end 130 and the second end140. The elongate body 120 may include the plurality of differentcolored segments 160. Each of the plurality of different coloredsegments 160 may be configured to represent a different distanceinterval. The plurality of different colored segments 160 may comprise 6different colored segments.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golftraining aid 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As above, the apparatus for use as a golf training aid 100may include the piece of webbing 110. The piece of webbing 110 may havethe elongate body 120 with the first end 130 and the second end 140. Theelongate body 120 may define the predetermined length. Dimensions of thepiece of fabric 110 may include the predetermined length being betweenabout 30 feet and 90 feet and a width between about 1 inch and 3 inches.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golftraining aid 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As above, the apparatus for use as a golf training aid 100may include and the piece of webbing 110. The apparatus 100 may furtherinclude a portable carrier 180 configured to house the apparatus 100when not in use. The portable carrier 180 may include an attachmentmeans 190 (i.e., strap, loop, etc.) configured to attach the portablecarrier 180 to a golf club carrier.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for use as a golftraining aid 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As above, the apparatus for use as a golf training aid 100may include and the piece of webbing 110. The apparatus 100 may furthercomprise a device configured to store the piece of webbing 110 when notin use. The device may be a storage reel 200. Further, the storage reel200 may include a handle 210 configured to facilitate collecting thepiece of webbing 110 onto the storage reel 200.

Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, underappropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences,design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost,available materials, technological advances, etc., other apparatus 100arrangements such as, for example, means of utilizing the apparatus 100,etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A method of distance controlpractice comprising: preparing a chipping-and-putting line between 10and 90 yards along or through a golf practice space; and performing agolf shot along the chipping-and-putting line.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the performing step comprises an address step and a swing step.3. The method of claim 2 wherein the chipping-and-putting line isvisible during the swing step.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein thechipping-and-putting line is a portable measuring device.
 5. The methodof claim 4 wherein the preparing step comprises a step of extending thechipping-and-putting line.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein thechipping-and-putting line comprises a strip of flexible webbing withregions between graduations wherein a region is visually distinct froman adjacent region.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein each region has adifferent color than an adjacent region.
 8. The method of claim 7wherein the strip comprises a plastic-, cloth-, paper-, or metal-likematerial.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein a graduation is spaced 5 ftor 5 yd from an adjacent graduation.
 10. The method of claim 9 whereinthe chipping-and-putting line extends less than or equal to 50 yards.11. The method of claim 10 wherein the webbing has six regions eachhaving a different color selected from green, black, orange, blue, red,and yellow.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the webbing has a meansfor temporarily affixing the webbing to the practice space.
 13. Themethod of claim 12 wherein the means for temporarily affixing comprisesspikes.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the means for temporarilyaffixing comprises holes in the webbing for receiving the spikes. 15.The method of claim 12 wherein the means for temporarily fixingcomprises a plurality of weights distributed along the webbing length.16. The method of claim 15 wherein the weights are integral with thewebbing.
 17. The method of claim 3 wherein the chipping-and-putting linecomprises strip-like markings chalked or painted onto the golf practicespace.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the chipping-and-putting linehas regions between graduations wherein a region is visually distinctfrom an adjacent region.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein each regionhas a different color than an adjacent region.
 20. The method of claim 2wherein the chipping-and-putting line is visible during the addressstep.